Florida plans new Skyway Fishing Pier in Manatee County. Here’s what to know

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida will build a new fishing pier on the south side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and renovate the existing pier on the north side.

The south pier in Manatee County has been partially closed since October due to damage from Hurricane Milton.

FULL STORY: ‘A major draw.’ Gov. DeSantis announces plan to build new Skyway Fishing Pier

Here are key takeaways:

• About 0.6 miles of the 2-mile-long south fishing pier in Manatee County closed in October after Hurricane Milton caused damage identified during a structural inspection by the Florida Department of Transportation.
• The state will build a new pier adjacent to the current south pier rather than simply repairing it. Repairs to the north pier in Pinellas County are expected to extend its lifespan by 20 years, according to DeSantis.
• Early construction will include parking area enhancements and wider sidewalks along the seawall, according to the governor’s office.
• Temporary fishing piers are being built on an accelerated timeline to offset lost fishing access during construction.
• DeSantis did not provide a completion date but said he plans to have the project done “expeditiously.” The piers date back to the replacement of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge after a 1980 ship crash that killed 35 people, when the old bridge ends were repurposed for fishing and recreation.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.